Maple Leafs Co-Favorites to Win Cup
After signing free agent John Tavares last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs are listed as co-favorites to win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup.
According to oddsmakers, the Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are both 17/2, respectively, to win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup. The Bruins, Predators, Golden Knights, Capitals and Jets are all 10/1, respectively, to win next year’s Stanley Cup, followed by the Penguins at 12/1. The odds drop off from there, as the Sharks are 20/1 and the Ducks, Blue Jackets, Oilers, Kings, Flyers and Blues are all 25/1, respectively.
Tavares noted that signing with the Maple Leafs was about living a childhood fantasy. He was born in Ontario and grew up a Leafs fan.
“To be from here, you start to get those emotions coming,” Tavares said. “It just felt right. It’s what I wanted to do. I know it’s a bit of an uncomfortable thing for me to do, but I didn’t want that to hold me back from a great opportunity.”
Toronto is certainly a team on the rise, led in part by the great young trio of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. After adding Tavares, this looks like a team ready to compete for a Stanley Cup. Below are the current Stanley Cup odds for every team.
Tampa Bay Lightning 17/2
Toronto Maple Leafs 17/2
Boston Bruins 10/1
Nashville Predators 10/1
Vegas Golden Knights 10/1
Washington Capitals 10/1
Winnipeg Jets 10/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 12/1
San Jose Sharks 20/1
Anaheim Ducks 25/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 25/1
Edmonton Oilers 25/1
Los Angeles Kings 25/1
Philadelphia Flyers 25/1
St Louis Blues 25/1
Chicago Blackhawks 28/1
Calgary Flames 30/1
Dallas Stars 30/1
Minnesota Wild 30/1
Colorado Avalanche 35/1
Florida Panthers 40/1
New Jersey Devils 40/1
New York Rangers 50/1
Carolina Hurricanes 65/1
Detroit Red Wings 65/1
Montreal Canadiens 65/1
New York Islanders 65/1
Vancouver Canucks 70/1
Arizona Coyotes 75/1
Buffalo Sabres 75/1
Ottawa Senators 100/1